Systems and methods of managing item pickup at attended delivery/pickup locations

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods for facilitating pick up of items delivered to attended delivery/pickup locations. In various embodiments, the system is configured for confirming an identity of a person attempting to pick up a parcel from an attended delivery/pickup location before releasing the parcel to the person. The system may confirm the identity by receiving identifying information, by confirming a geographic location of a person attempting to retrieve the parcel, etc. In some embodiments, the system may be configure to enable parcel recipients to provide other persons the authorization to retrieve parcels and may be further configured to confirm this authorization before releasing parcels to a person other than the intended parcel recipient.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/791,008, filed Mar. 15, 2013, entitled, “Systems andMethods of Delivering Parcels Using Attended Delivery Locations,” andU.S. Provisional Application No. 61/777,968, filed Mar. 12, 2013,entitled, “Systems and Methods of Delivering Parcels Using AttendedDelivery Locations,” which are hereby incorporated herein by referencein their entirety.

BACKGROUND

People and businesses may desire convenient ways to send and receiveparcels or other items, such as items that those people have purchasedor items of inventory that those businesses may offer for sale.Accordingly, there is a need for improved systems and methods thataddress these issues.

SUMMARY

A non-transitory computer-readable medium, according to variousembodiments, stores computer-executable instructions for: (a) receiving,from a first user, a first request to deliver one or more parcels to anattended delivery/pickup location, the request comprising an intendedrecipient for the one or more parcels; (b) at least partially inresponse to receiving the first request, facilitating delivery of theone or more parcels to the attended delivery/pickup location; (c)receiving, at the attended delivery/pickup location, a second request toretrieve the one or more delivered parcels by a second user; (d) atleast partially in response to receiving the second request, confirmingan authorization of the second user to retrieve the one or more parcels;and (e) at least partially in response to the confirming that the seconduser has the authorization, facilitating a release of the one or moreparcels to the second user.

A computer system for facilitating delivery of a parcel to a recipient,according to particular embodiments, comprises at least one processor.In particular embodiments, the computer system is configured for: (a)receiving, from a first user, a first request to deliver one or moreparcels to an attended delivery/pickup location, the request comprisingan intended recipient for the one or more parcels; (b) at leastpartially in response to receiving the first request, providing anelectronic identification to the intended recipient and facilitatingdelivery of the one or more parcels to the attended delivery/pickuplocation; (c) receiving, at the attended delivery/pickup location, asecond request to retrieve the one or more delivered parcels by a seconduser; (d) at least partially in response to receiving the secondrequest, confirming an authorization of the second user to retrieve theone or more parcels, the confirming comprising receiving, from thesecond user, the electronic identification; and (e) at least partiallyin response to the confirming that the second user has theauthorization, facilitating a release of the one or more parcels to thesecond user.

A computer-implemented method of delivering a parcel to an alternatedelivery/pickup location, in various embodiments, comprises: (a)providing, by a processor, a selection of one or more attendeddelivery/pickup locations to a first user; (b) receiving, by aprocessor, a request from the first user to deliver one or more parcelsto a particular one of the one or more attended delivery/pickuplocations, the one or more parcels having one or more intended parcelrecipients; (c) facilitating delivery, by a processor, of the one ormore parcels from an origin location to the particular one of the one ormore attended delivery/pickup locations; (d) receiving, by a processor,an indication of a delivery of the one or more parcels at the particularone of the one or more attended delivery/pickup locations; (e)receiving, by a processor, an indication that the one or more intendedparcel recipients are attempting to pick up the one or more parcels fromthe particular one of the one or more attended delivery/pickuplocations; (f) confirming, by a processor, an identity of the one ormore intended parcel recipients; and (g) at least partially in responseto the confirmation, enabling release, by a processor, of the one ormore parcels to the one or more confirmed intended parcel recipients.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments of a system and method for delivering parcels toattended delivery/pickup locations are described below. In the course ofthis description, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings,which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a logistics system in accordance with anembodiment of the present system;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a computer, such as the logisticsserver of FIG. 1, that is suitable for use in various embodiments;

FIG. 3 depicts a flow chart that generally illustrates various stepsexecuted by a parcel delivery module that, for example, may be executedby the logistics server of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 depicts a flow chart that generally illustrates various stepsexecuted by an Item Pickup Module that, for example, may be executed bythe logistics server of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a transportation diagram depicting exemplary transportationpaths that may be taken by parcels that are delivered to and/or fromattended delivery/pickup locations according to various embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments now will be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that theinvention may be embodied in many different forms and should not beconstrued as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, theseembodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough andcomplete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to thoseskilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

Overview

Logistics networks, according to various embodiments, use attendedpickup and delivery locations to facilitate: (1) the convenient deliveryof parcels and other items to individuals; and/or (2) the convenientpickup of parcels and other items from individuals who wish to sendthose items to others via a common carrier. In various embodiments,existing retail businesses may be used as suitable delivery/pickuplocations. For example, a gas station, a convenience store, a flowershop, a magazine stand, a retail location associated with a commoncarrier, a kiosk at a mall, or a retail department store may enter intoan agreement with a common carrier to accept deliveries of parcels(and/or other items) that are to be picked up later, at a convenienttime, by the intended recipient of the parcels or other items. Theretail location may also agree to serve as a drop-off point for parcelsand/or other items that are to be delivered to another location by thecarrier.

In certain embodiments, each attended delivery/pickup location is mannedfor at least some time during the week and is equipped with a computersystem that is adapted to communicate both with: (1) one or morecomputer systems associated with the common carrier; (2) one or morecomputing devices associated with the sender of the parcel; and (3) oneor more computing devices associated with the recipient of the parcel.An example of a suitable computer system is shown in FIG. 1 and isdescribed in greater technical detail at the end of this document.

In particular embodiments, a computer at the attended delivery/pickuplocation (e.g., an “attended delivery/pickup location computer”) isadapted to send suitable messages regarding the status of parcelshandled by the attended delivery/pickup location. For example, when theattended delivery/pickup location receives a parcel, the attendeddelivery/pickup location computer may automatically transmit an e-mail,text, or other message to: (1) the common carrier's computer system; (2)the recipient's computing device; and/or (3) the sender's computingdevice indicating that the parcel has been received by the attendeddelivery/pickup location and is ready to be picked up by the recipient.The message may also include other suitable information, such as thename and location of the attended delivery/pickup location, the days andhours of operation of the attended delivery/pickup location, and thedeadline by which the individual must retrieve the parcel before, forexample: (1) the item is returned to the sender; or (2) the recipient ischarged for late pickup of the item.

The attended delivery/pickup location may also automatically transmit ane-mail, text, or other message to: (1) the common carrier's computersystem; (2) the recipient's computing device; (3) the sender's computingdevice; and/or (4) any other suitable computer in response to anysuitable event including, for example: (1) the parcel being picked up bythe individual; (2) the parcel being returned to the carrier after atime period for retrieving the parcel has passed; (3) the parcel beingtransferred to another attended delivery/pickup location; or (4) anyother suitable event.

In various embodiments, the system may be configured to facilitate thedelivery of parcels directly to attended delivery/pickup locations from,for example, e-commerce retailers from which users may order items fordelivery. For example, the system may be configured to allow a usermaking purchases of items via the Internet to have those items delivereddirectly to attended delivery/pickup locations. In such embodiments, aswell as in other embodiments, the system may be configured to presentusers with a selection of attended delivery/pickup locations for itemsthat the user orders.

In particular embodiments, the system may be configured to present userswith attended delivery/pickup location options based at least in part onany of the following: (1) a location of the user's home; (2) a locationof the user's place of work; (3) any location specified by the user(e.g., such as a location that the user frequently visits); and/or (4)any other suitable metric for determining an appropriate selection ofattended delivery/pickup locations to present to the user. In variousembodiments, the system may be configured to provide a selection ofattended delivery/pickup locations that are: (1) within a particulardistance of any of the locations described above; (2) open (e.g., areavailable for picking up parcels) at a time convenient to the user; (3)have certain hours of operation; and/or (4) any other factor that may bebeneficial to the user or common carrier in dropping off or picking upparcels from attended delivery/pickup locations.

In various embodiments, the system is configured to confirm whether anattended delivery/pickup location has capacity to accept a parcel beforedirecting (e.g., or redirecting) a parcel to the attendeddelivery/pickup location or before presenting the alternate location asa potential delivery location to a customer. This may include, forexample, ensuring that there is enough physical space at the attendeddelivery/pickup location to accept the parcel or suitable systems inplace at the attended delivery/pickup location to accommodate anyspecial handling instructions that the parcel containing the item mayhave (e.g., a requirement to store the parcel at a particulartemperature). In such embodiments, the system may be further configuredto substantially automatically (e.g., automatically) reserve space atthe attended delivery/pickup location for the parcel to ensure that theattended delivery/pickup location will not lose capacity to accept theparcel before the parcel arrives.

In particular embodiments, the system is configured to confirm anidentity of a person attempting to retrieve a parcel from an attendeddelivery/pickup location. The system may use any suitable technique toconfirm the person's identity, such as, for example, receiving anelectronic ID with which the system has provided the person, confirminga geo-location of the person attempting to retrieve the parcel, etc. Invarious embodiments, the system is configured to release parcels only tothe parcel's intended recipient. In other embodiments, the system isconfigured to release the parcel to others, who may, for example,receive authority to retrieve the parcel from the intended recipient. Invarious embodiments, confirming the identity of users retrieving parcelsmay substantially ensure that parcels are not inadvertently released toan incorrect person.

The use of such attended delivery/pickup locations may have a variety ofdifferent advantages. First, in certain situations, the recipient of aparcel may not typically be home when parcels are commonly delivered. Insuch situations, it may be useful to have the parcels delivered to anattended location where an individual is available to accept and/or signfor a particular parcel and maintain the parcel in a safe location untilthe recipient is available to pick up the parcel. As another example, anindividual may prefer to have personal deliveries made close to, but notto, their workplace so that they can retrieve the parcels when they areat work. Shipping items directly to attended delivery/pickup locationsmay also provide a cost savings to common carriers and other shippingand/or logistics companies by avoiding the need to deliver parcels andother items to the home addresses of individual parcel recipients.Rather, the common carriers can deliver parcels to several attendeddelivery/pickup locations that service a particular area where parcelrecipients can go to collect their parcels.

Various additional implementations of attended delivery/pickup locationsare described below, after a brief discussion of exemplary technicalplatforms and computer system architecture that may be used, forexample, in implementing various aspects of this concept.

Exemplary Technical Platforms

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the relevant field, the presentinvention may be, for example, embodied as a computer system, a method,or a computer program product. Accordingly, various embodiments may takethe form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely softwareembodiment, or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects.Furthermore, particular embodiments may take the form of a computerprogram product stored on a computer-readable storage medium havingcomputer-readable instructions (e.g., software) embodied in the storagemedium. Various embodiments may take the form of web-implementedcomputer software. Any suitable computer-readable storage medium may beutilized including, for example, hard disks, compact disks, DVDs,optical storage devices, and/or magnetic storage devices.

Various embodiments are described below with reference to block diagramsand flowchart illustrations of methods, apparatuses (e.g., systems) andcomputer program products. It should be understood that each block ofthe block diagrams and flowchart illustrations, and combinations ofblocks in the block diagrams and flowchart illustrations, respectively,can be implemented by a computer executing computer programinstructions. These computer program instructions may be loaded onto ageneral purpose computer, special purpose computer, or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such thatthe instructions which execute on the computer or other programmabledata processing apparatus to create means for implementing the functionsspecified in the flowchart block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in acomputer-readable memory that can direct a computer or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus to function in a particularmanner such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memoryproduce an article of manufacture that is configured for implementingthe function specified in the flowchart block or blocks. The computerprogram instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operationalsteps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus toproduce a computer implemented process such that the instructions thatexecute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide stepsfor implementing the functions specified in the flowchart block orblocks.

Accordingly, blocks of the block diagrams and flowchart illustrationssupport combinations of mechanisms for performing the specifiedfunctions, combinations of steps for performing the specified functions,and program instructions for performing the specified functions. Itshould also be understood that each block of the block diagrams andflowchart illustrations, and combinations of blocks in the blockdiagrams and flowchart illustrations, can be implemented by specialpurpose hardware-based computer systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or steps, or combinations of special purpose hardware andother hardware executing appropriate computer instructions.

Example System Architecture

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a System 110 according to a particularembodiment. As may be understood from this figure, the System 110includes one or more computer networks 115, a Logistics Server 100, aDatabase 140, and one or more remote computing devices such as a tabletcomputer 152, a desktop computer 154, or a mobile computing device 156(e.g., such as a smart phone, a tablet computer, a wearable computingdevice, a laptop computer, etc.) In particular embodiments, the one ormore computer networks facilitate communication between the LogisticsServer 100, Database 140, and one or more remote computing devices 152,154, 156.

The one or more computer networks 115 may include any of a variety oftypes of wired or wireless computer networks such as the Internet, aprivate intranet, a mesh network, a public switch telephone network(PSTN), or any other type of network (e.g., a network that usesBluetooth or near field communications to facilitate communicationbetween computers). The communication link between Logistics Server 100and Database 140 may be, for example, implemented via a Local AreaNetwork (LAN) or via the Internet.

FIG. 2 illustrates a diagrammatic representation of a computerarchitecture 120 that can be used within the System 110, for example, asa client computer (e.g., one of client computers 152, 154, 156 shown inFIG. 1), or as a server computer (e.g., Logistics Server 100 shown inFIG. 1). In particular embodiments, the computer 120 may be suitable foruse as a computer within the context of the System 110 that isconfigured to facilitate the delivery of parcels to attendeddelivery/pickup locations or facilitate the receipt and/or processing ofparcels once they are delivered to the attended delivery/pickuplocations.

In particular embodiments, the computer 120 may be connected (e.g.,networked) to other computers in a LAN, an intranet, an extranet, and/orthe Internet. As noted above, the computer 120 may operate in thecapacity of a server or a client computer in a client-server networkenvironment, or as a peer computer in a peer-to-peer (or distributed)network environment. The Computer 120 may be a desktop personal computer(PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box (STB), a Personal Digital Assistant(PDA), a cellular telephone, a web appliance, a server, a networkrouter, a switch or bridge, or any other computer capable of executing aset of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to betaken by that computer. Further, while only a single computer isillustrated, the term “computer” shall also be taken to include anycollection of computers that individually or jointly execute a set (ormultiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of themethodologies discussed herein.

An exemplary computer 120 includes a processing device 202, a mainmemory 204 (e.g., read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, dynamic randomaccess memory (DRAM) such as synchronous DRAM (SDRAM) or Rambus DRAM(RDRAM), etc.), a static memory 206 (e.g., flash memory, static randomaccess memory (SRAM), etc.), and a data storage device 218, whichcommunicate with each other via a bus 232.

The processing device 202 represents one or more general-purposeprocessing devices such as a microprocessor, a central processing unit,or the like. More particularly, the processing device 202 may be acomplex instruction set computing (CISC) microprocessor, reducedinstruction set computing (RISC) microprocessor, very long instructionword (VLIW) microprocessor, or processor implementing other instructionsets, or processors implementing a combination of instruction sets. Theprocessing device 202 may also be one or more special-purpose processingdevices such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), afield programmable gate array (FPGA), a digital signal processor (DSP),network processor, or the like. The processing device 202 may beconfigured to execute processing logic 226 for performing variousoperations and steps discussed herein.

The computer 120 may further include a network interface device 208. Thecomputer 120 also may include a video display unit 210 (e.g., a liquidcrystal display (LCD) or a cathode ray tube (CRT)), an alphanumericinput device 212 (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor control device 214 (e.g.,a mouse), and a signal generation device 216 (e.g., a speaker).

The data storage device 218 may include a non-transitorycomputer-accessible storage medium 230 (also known as a non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium or a non-transitory computer-readablemedium) on which is stored one or more sets of instructions (e.g.,software 222) embodying any one or more of the methodologies orfunctions described herein. The software 222 may also reside, completelyor at least partially, within the main memory 204 and/or within theprocessing device 202 during execution thereof by the computer 120—themain memory 204 and the processing device 202 also constitutingcomputer-accessible storage media. The software 222 may further betransmitted or received over a network 115 via a network interfacedevice 208.

While the computer-accessible storage medium 230 is shown in anexemplary embodiment to be a single medium, the term“computer-accessible storage medium” should be understood to include asingle medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributeddatabase, and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one ormore sets of instructions. The term “computer-accessible storage medium”should also be understood to include any medium that is capable ofstoring, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution by thecomputer and that cause the computer to perform any one or more of themethodologies of the present invention. The term “computer-accessiblestorage medium” should accordingly be understood to include, but not belimited to, solid-state memories, optical and magnetic media, etc.

Exemplary System Platform

Various embodiments of a system for delivering parcels to attendeddelivery/pickup locations may be implemented within the context of anysuitable logistics service. For example, particular embodiments may beimplemented within the context of any suitable logistics service offeredby United Parcel Service, Inc. of Atlanta, Ga. Various aspects of thesystem's functionality may be executed by certain system modules,including a Parcel Delivery Module 300. This module is discussed ingreater detail below.

Parcel Delivery Module

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of operations performed by an exemplary ParcelDelivery Module 300. In particular embodiments, the Parcel DeliveryModule 300 may facilitate the delivery of parcels to an attendeddelivery/pickup location.

When executing the Parcel Delivery Module 300, the system begins, atStep 310, by displaying one or more attended delivery/pickup locationsto a user. In various embodiments, these attended delivery/pickuplocations include retail stores (e.g., including gas stations, grocerystores, and pharmacies), stand-alone kiosks, or any other suitablelocations for receiving and holding parcels for pick up by recipients.In particular embodiments, attended delivery/pickup locations includeattended delivery/pickup locations, but they may also include unattendeddelivery/pickup locations. In some embodiments, attended delivery/pickuplocations may include locations (e.g., retail locations) other than theintended parcel recipient's home or business.

In various embodiments, the system may configured to determine anddisplay available attended delivery/pickup locations based on anysuitable criteria. For example, the system may be adapted to: (1) allowa user to request that the system display all attended delivery/pickuplocations within a predetermined radius of the user; and (2) in responseto the request, displaying all attended delivery/pickup locations withinthe predetermined radius of the user. In another embodiment, the systemmay be adapted to: (1) determine a location that a user is frequentlylocated (e.g., the user's home or workplace); and (2) displaying allattended delivery/pickup locations within the predetermined radius ofthe location.

In particular embodiments, the system may be adapted to allow a vendoror other entity to open one or more attended delivery/pickup locationsfor a particular customer or event. In other embodiments, the system maybe adapted to allow a vendor (e.g., a particular retailer) to select asubgroup of a group of available attended delivery/pickup locations thatthe vendor's products may be delivered to, and/or to exclude a subgroupof available delivery locations for delivery of the vendor's products.This feature may be particularly desirable for vendors who have acertain brand image that is inconsistent with the image of certainattended delivery/pickup locations (e.g., a high-end jewelry retailermay not wish to have their products picked up at a gas station, but maybe happy to have their products picked up at a high-end departmentstore).

The system continues, at Step 320, by receiving a request from the userto deliver a parcel to a particular one of the one or more attendeddelivery/pickup locations (which may, for example, have no formalrelationship to the user). In particular embodiments, the request maycome from the user after the user reviews a plurality of availableattended delivery/pickup locations (see Step 310, above) as part of acheckout process when the user purchases an item from an online retailstore.

The system continues, at Step 330, by facilitating the delivery of theparcel from an origin location to the attended delivery/pickup location.The origin location may include a home of the parcel sender, a warehouseassociated with an online retailer, a retail store, or any othersuitable location. In various embodiments, the system may facilitate thedelivery of the parcel via any suitable common carrier or otherlogistics provider, etc.

In various embodiments, a system for delivering parcels to attendeddelivery locations may comprise features in addition to the systemdescribed above. These additional features are described more fullybelow.

A. Use of Attended Delivery/Pickup Locations Within Brick-And-MortarStores

In various embodiments, an attended delivery/pickup location may beprovided within a brick-and-mortar store, such as a department store,and used to facilitate the provision of adequate inventory to the store.The attended delivery/pickup location may be staffed by a third party(e.g., by an entity other than the brick-and-mortar store), or by thebrick-and-mortar store itself.

In a particular embodiment, a separate attended delivery/pickup locationis provided in each individual store within a network of departmentstores (or within a network of otherwise unaffiliated department storesor other stores). In various embodiments, the attended delivery/pickuplocations are used to facilitate the transfer of items between thestores (or the purchase of one or more items from the inventory ofanother, unrelated store). In a particular example, a customer may visita first department store location within a network of department stores(e.g., a brick and mortar “ABC Shoes” location in Marietta, Ga.), try ona particular pair of shoes in size 10.5, and determine that theyactually need a size 11 in the shoes. If the Marietta location of ABCShoes does not have the shoes in size 11, employees of the store maysearch nearby ABC Shoes locations (and/or the inventory of other shoestores) to determine whether a nearby store has the shoes in size 11.Upon determining that another store has the shoes in the desired size,an employee of the Marietta store may use their computer to issue arequest to the identified store (e.g. an ABC Shoes store in Alpharetta,Ga., or an XYZ store in Macon, Ga.) to send a pair of appropriate size11 shoes to the Marietta ABC Shoes location.

In response to receiving the request, an employee at the Alpharetta ABCShoes location may bring a box containing a size 11 pair of the shoes toan attended delivery/pickup location within the Alpharetta ABC Shoes.Representatives of the attended delivery/pickup location then facilitatethe delivery of the shoes from the Alpharetta ABC Shoes store to theMarietta ABC Shoes store. In particular embodiments, this may reduce theoverall cost of transporting the shoes from the first retail location tothe second retail location because the carrier that services theattended delivery/pickup locations within the first and second retaillocations may deliver items in bulk from the first location to thesecond location on a regular basis. The items may be, for example,transported together in a single container and/or transported directlyfrom the first retail location to the second location, which may serveto reduce the per-item costs associated with transporting the items.

In various embodiments, when a particular item sought by a customershopping at a particular retail store is unavailable (e.g., such as theshoes in size 11 in the example described above), the customer mayrequest to have the item sent to an attended delivery/pickup locationother than the attended delivery/pickup location at the particularretail store. In the size 11 shoe example above, the customer would beable to request to have the shoes sent to an attended delivery/pickuplocation other than the attended delivery/pickup location at the ABCShoes in Marietta. The user may, for example, request to have the shoesdelivered to an attended delivery/pickup location that is convenient tothe user (e.g., such as an attended delivery/pickup location locatednear the customer's home or office).

In-store attended delivery/pickup locations may also be used inrestocking the store's inventory from one or more warehouses (or otherstores in the store's network of stores, which may include stores thatare otherwise unrelated to the store). In particular embodiments, acarrier associated with the attended delivery/pickup locationscoordinates regular shipments (e.g., bulk shipments) from eachparticular warehouse to each particular department store location. Invarious embodiments, new inventory is received at the store by workerswho are associated with the attended delivery/pickup locations. Theworkers then coordinate the transfer of the items to store employees forstocking

In various embodiments, in-store attended delivery/pickup locations mayalso be used to facilitate the return of items purchased from a retailweb site that is: (1) associated with the department store in which theattended delivery/pickup location is located; and/or (2) not associatedwith the department store in which the attended/delivery location islocated. For example, in a particular embodiment, an in-store attendeddelivery/pickup location within a particular BIG DEALS department storemay be set up to accept returns of items purchased from www.BigDeals.com. In such cases, if a user purchases an item from www.BigDeals.com and wishes to return it, they may simply bring the item to thein-store attended delivery/pickup location within their local Big Dealsdepartment store and receive a refund for the item. In particularembodiments, there is no shipping charge (or other charge) associatedwith returning the item.

As another example, an in-store attended delivery/pickup location withina particular “Big Deals” department store may be set up to acceptreturns of items purchased from a retail web site that is unrelated toBig Deals. For example, the in-store attended delivery/pickup locationmay be set up to accept returns of items purchased from a retail website called www.bestbargain.com. In a particular embodiment, if the userpurchases an item from www.bestbargain.com and wishes to return it, theymay bring the item to the in-store attended delivery/pickup locationwithin their local Big Deals department store and receive a refund forthe item. In particular embodiments, there is no shipping charge (orother charge) associated with returning the item.

In various other embodiments, the attended delivery/pickup location, thelogistics company shipping the returned item, and/or the retail web siteto which an item is being returned may charge the customer for returningthe item. In particular embodiments, the return charge may be sharedamong one or more of: (1) the attended delivery/pickup location; (2) thelogistics company shipping the returned item; (3) and/or the retail website to which the item is being returned. In other embodiments, thereturn charge less the cost of shipping the item back to the retailwebsite is shared rather than the full return charge. In otherembodiments, the return charge may be shared among one or more of theattended delivery/pickup location, the logistics company shipping thereturned item, and/or the retail web site to which an item the beingreturned in disproportionate quantities (e.g., 50% to the logisticscompany, 25% to the retail website, and 25% to the attendeddelivery/pickup location).

In particular embodiments, an in-store, attended delivery/pickuplocation within a particular brick-and-mortar store may be set up to:(1) receive items purchased at the store from users; and (2) ship theitems to a location designated by the user (e.g., to the user'sresidential or business address, or to the address of anotherindividual). In particular embodiments, the individual may: (1) not becharged for shipping the item; (2) be charged a discounted fee forshipping the item; or (3) may be charged the full fee for shipping theitem. In various embodiments, the charge associated with shipping theitem may depend upon the cost of the items (e.g., the customer mayreceive free or discounted shipping of purchases above a pre-determinedthreshold cost). In other embodiments, individuals who are members of aparticular shipping subscription service may receive free or discountedshipping of items purchased at the retail location.

B. Customization of Networks of Attended Delivery/Pickup Locations

In various embodiments, the system may be adapted to allow users todefine their own network of attended delivery/pickup locations. Forexample, a central logistics computer system (which a user may, forexample, access via the Internet) may be configured to displayrespective graphical representations of a plurality of attendeddelivery/pickup locations on a map of an area associated with aparticular user (e.g., a map of an area in which the user's home orbusiness is located). The system may allow the user to select one ormore attended delivery/pickup locations displayed by the graphical userinterface as the default delivery/pickup locations to which any parcelsto be delivered to the user by a particular logistics provider are to bedelivered. For example, the user may select: (1) a first of the attendeddelivery/pickup locations as a primary attended delivery/pickup locationthat the logistics provider should deliver any of the user's parcels to,if the attended delivery/pickup location is available; and (2) one ormore alternative attended delivery/pickup locations that the logisticsprovider should deliver any of the user's parcels to, if the primaryattended delivery/pickup location is unavailable.

In various embodiments, if a particular delivery/pickup location becomesunavailable to accept deliveries during a particular period of time(e.g., the delivery/pickup location becomes full, or temporarily orpermanently closes), the system may modify the graphical representationof the particular delivery/pickup location to indicate itsunavailability. For example, the system may display one or more portionsof the graphical representation of the particular delivery/pickuplocation in gray rather than black to indicate its currentunavailability to accept packages.

C. Economic Models Associated with Holding Items for Pickup

In particular embodiments, the system may be configured for, in responseto a parcel being delivered to a particular delivery/pickup location,generating an e-mail to the recipient of the parcel indicating adeadline by which the recipient must retrieve the parcel from thedelivery/pickup location. In particular embodiments, the system savesthis deadline to memory and, in response to the deadline passing withoutthe system receiving an indication that the parcel has been picked upfrom the delivery/pickup location by the deadline, the systemfacilitates the return of the parcel from the delivery/pickup locationto the parcel's sender. In various embodiments, the system facilitatesthe parcel's return by transmitting a message to an appropriatelogistics server instructing a logistics provider to pick the parcel upfrom the delivery/pickup location and return the parcel to the parcel'ssender.

In order to encourage customers to retrieve parcels before the stateddeadline, the system may be adapted to provide one or more financialincentives for the parcel recipient retrieving the parcel by an earlypickup deadline that is before the stated normal parcel pickup deadline.For example, the system may be adapted to provide the customer with afree or discounted future logistics service (or other financialincentive) in response to the user retrieving their parcel more than aday before the stated normal parcel pickup deadline. Similarly, thesystem may be adapted to allow users to extend the deadline by, forexample, paying a fee to extend the deadline.

D. Method of Allowing Individuals to Coordinate Delivery of an Item toan Attended Delivery/Pickup Location via a Non-Participating Website

In particular embodiments, the system may be adapted to allow a user tofacilitate the delivery of an item ordered on a retail website to aparticular attended delivery/pickup location. In a particularembodiment, the system first provides the user with an addressassociated with a particular logistics provider, as well as a code(e.g., a unique code) associated with the user. When the user completesan order of an item on a retail website, the user enters thelogistics-provider-designated address in the delivery address field onthe retail website, along with the code associated with the user.

As a result, when the retailer sends the item to the user in a parcel,the retailer attaches a shipping label to the parcel that includes thelogistics-provider-designated address and user code. The parcel is thenshipped to the logistics-provider-designated address by any suitablelogistics provider (which may or may not be the particular logisticsprovider referenced above). Once the particular logistics providerreceives the parcel at the logistics-provider-designated address, theparticular logistics provider reads the user code and uses the user codeto retrieve delivery information associated with the user from a datastore, such as a database. The delivery information may include, forexample, the user's name, contact information (e.g., e-mail address,cell phone number, etc. . . . ), and the address of the user's preferredattended delivery/pickup location.

The logistics provider may then: (1) facilitate the delivery of theparcel to the user's preferred attended delivery/pickup location (orother suitable attended delivery/pickup location); and (2) use theuser's contact information to contact the user and inform them that theparcel will be delivered to the attended delivery/pickup location andprovide them with instructions for retrieving the parcel. In aparticular embodiment, the logistics provider may facilitate thedelivery of the parcel to the user's preferred attended delivery/pickuplocation by relabeling the parcel with the user's name and address ofthe attended delivery/pickup location.

In alternative embodiments, the system may be adapted so that when theuser completes an order of an item on the retail website, the usersimply enters a code associated with the user and selects a particularlogistics provider to handle delivery of the item to the user. Invarious embodiments, the logistics provider uses the code to retrieveuser and delivery information in the manner described above. Thelogistics provider then uses the user and delivery information tofacilitate delivery of the item to the user.

E. Systems for Facilitating Proper Handling of Parcels at an AttendedDelivery/Pickup Location

In various embodiments, the system may be adapted to remind individualsat each attended delivery/pickup location to enter informationassociated with parcels into the system as the parcels arrive at theattended delivery/pickup location. For example, the system may beadapted to display a reminder message at predetermined times during eachwork day that reminds users to use a bar code scanner associated withthe system to scan the labels of any parcels that arrive at the attendeddelivery/pickup location. In other embodiments, the system may beadapted to display such reminders around times that parcels arescheduled to arrive at the attended delivery/pickup location. This mayhelp to assure that information regarding each parcel is promptlyentered into the system.

In particular embodiments, the system may be adapted for receivinginformation regarding the scheduled closure of each attendeddelivery/pickup location (e.g., holiday closures or permanent closures).The system may further be configured for: (1) communicating thisinformation to users; (2) facilitating the rerouting of any parcels thatare scheduled to be delivered to the attended delivery/pickup locationwhile the attended delivery/pickup location is scheduled to be closed;and/or (3) removing the attended delivery/pickup location as an optionfor receiving deliveries while the attended delivery/pickup location isscheduled to be closed.

The system may also be adapted to employ various techniques fordetermining that a particular parcel has been delivered to a particularattended delivery/pickup location. For example, the system may beadapted to: (1) receive an indication that a particular parcel has beenscanned at drop off; (2) receive data regarding the location at whichthe parcel was scanned at drop off (e.g., using GPS functionalityassociated with a handheld device or other electronic device); (3)compare the location with the geolocations of one or more attendeddelivery/pickup locations; and (4) in response to determining that thelocation at which the parcel was scanned at least generally correspondsto the geolocation of a particular attended delivery/pickup location,verify that the parcel has been delivered to the particular attendeddelivery/pickup location; and (5) save an indication to the system'smemory indicating that the parcel has been delivered to the particularattended delivery/pickup location. In various embodiments, the system isfurther adapted to send confirmation (e.g., via e-mail, text message,etc.) to a recipient of the delivery of the particular parcel at leastpartially in response to verifying that the parcel has been delivered tothe particular attended delivery/pickup location. In particularembodiments, the system is further adapted to send a request forconfirmation of delivery to the attended delivery/pickup location and toreceive such confirmation.

F. Systems for Facilitating Signature of Documents at AttendedDelivery/Pickup Locations

In various embodiments, attended delivery/pickup locations may beconfigured to manage the signature of documents, such as contracts andother legal documents. In a particular embodiment, to facilitate thesignature of a contract, a first individual may send the document to aparticular attended delivery/pickup location to be signed by a secondindividual. The delivery of the document to the attended delivery/pickuplocation may be facilitated as outlined above, and—when the documentarrives at the particular attended delivery/pickup location, the systemmay notify the second individual that the document has arrived andprovide instructions for the second individual to come to the particularattended delivery/pickup location and sign the document.

The second individual may then travel to the particular attendeddelivery/pickup location and, after providing identification (e.g., inthe form of an ID card or a code displayed on the individual's mobilecomputing device) to a representative of the attended delivery/pickuplocation, sign the contract. The representative may then verify, in anysuitable manner that the contract has been signed by the correctindividual. For example, the representative may notarize the documentand/or enter information into a data store associated with the systemconfirming that the contract has been signed by the correct individual.The representative may also create an electronic copy of the documentand save the signed document into the system's memory for laterretrieval and/or electronic transmission to the first and secondindividuals. Finally, the system and/or representative may coordinatethe return of the original signed document to the first or secondindividual for their files.

In various embodiments, the document to be signed may include a uniquebar code that is used to identify the document, track the document,and/or store the document in memory. In various embodiments, the uniquebarcode may be used to identify the document as well as the one or moresignors of the document.

G. Provision of Value-Added Services at Attended Delivery/PickupLocations

In particular embodiments, representatives at attended delivery/pickuplocations may provide one or more value-added services on parcels and/oritems at the attended delivery/pickup locations. This may occur, forexample, as items and/or parcels are being returned for a refund, orsimply shipped to another location. For example, the representativesmay: (1) pack the items for shipping; (2) gift wrap the items; (3)facilitate the return of items to a retailer for a refund or exchange(see below); and/or (4) complete any other value-added service.

H. Use of Attended Delivery/Pickup Locations Within Shopping Centers

A further use of attended delivery/pickup locations involves providingone or more attended delivery/pickup locations within a shopping center(e.g., a mall). In a particular embodiment the attended delivery/pickuplocations are configured to: (1) receive items purchased at the shoppingcenter from users; and (2) ship the items to a location designated bythe user (e.g., to the user's residential or business address, to anattended delivery/pickup location close to the user's residential orbusiness address, and/or to another address designated by the user).This may allow a user to purchase items at the shopping center and thenfacilitate transporting the purchased items to the user's home oranother location without the hassle of leaving the shopping center withthe items, transporting the items, etc. . . .

I. Capacity Management Techniques

In particular embodiments, a computer system may be used to estimate thecurrent and/or future capacity of the attended delivery/pickup locationsto receive and store parcels. This may be done, for example, using aparticular algorithm that assumes, for example, that any parcels will beof a certain average size and will be stored by the attendeddelivery/pickup locations for a certain period of time before beingpicked up by a parcel recipient.

In other embodiments, the system may use more precise methods formonitoring the current and/or future capacity of attendeddelivery/pickup locations to receive and store parcels. For example, thevolume of storage space within each attended delivery/pickup locationmay be stored within the system, and the actual dimensions of eachparcel may also be entered into the system when the parcel is receivedby a logistics company and/or the attended delivery/pickup location. Thesystem may then use this information to: (1) calculate the total volumeof parcels that are being stored, or that will be stored, at aparticular attended delivery/pickup location at a particular time; and(2) estimate the available capacity of the attended delivery/pickuplocation to store additional parcels by comparing the calculated parcelvolume with the volume of storage space at the attended delivery/pickuplocation.

In particular embodiments, the system is adapted to determine that anattended delivery/pickup location is unavailable to accept additionaldeliveries if the estimated volume or number of parcels stored at theattended delivery/pickup location (or to be stored at the attendeddelivery/pickup location) is within a particular predeterminedpercentage of the attended delivery/pickup location's capacity. Forexample, if the attended delivery/pickup location is determined to be at95% maximum capacity, the system may determine that the attendeddelivery/pickup location is unavailable to accept additional deliveries.In such a case, the system may reroute parcels scheduled to be deliveredto the attended delivery/pickup location to an alternative attendeddelivery/pickup location and/or show the attended delivery/pickuplocation as being currently unavailable.

In other embodiments, the system may use one or more of the followingdifferent factors to determine whether a particular attendeddelivery/pickup location has the capacity to accept a particular parcel.Such factors include, for example: (1) the weight of a parcel; (2) thedimensions of the parcel; (3) average latency of parcels at the attendeddelivery/pickup location; (4) one or more characteristics of theparcel's intended recipient (e.g., how quickly the intended recipientusually retrieves parcels from attended delivery/pickup locations); (5)typical characteristics of the clientele of the delivery/pickup location(e.g., how quickly the average customer of the attended delivery/pickuplocation retrieves parcels from the attended delivery/pickup location);(6) the cubic parcel storage capacity of the attended delivery/pickuplocation; (7) the density of the parcel and/or (7) the ability of theattended delivery/pickup location to extend its capacity to acceptparcels. The system may also take into account the amount of laborrequired to physically add the parcel to the current inventory of theattended delivery/pickup location.

J. Methods for Recommending Attended Delivery/Pickup Locations to Users

In various embodiments, the system may be adapted to recommendparticular attended delivery/pickup locations for the delivery of aparticular parcel. In particular embodiments, the system may be adaptedto automatically generate suitable recommendations based, at least inpart, on: (1) the distance of the attended delivery/pickup location froma location specified by the user; (2) the estimated current or futurecapacity of the attended delivery/pickup location to accept deliveries;(3) trends in activity associated with the particular attendeddelivery/pickup location (e.g., if an attended delivery/pickup locationexperiences an day-to-day increase in volume above a certain threshold,the system won't recommend the attended delivery/pickup location for apredetermined number of days); or (4) any other suitable factors. Afterthe system recommends one or more particular delivery/pickup locations,the user may either select one of the recommended attendeddelivery/pickup locations to receive the delivery, or specify anon-recommended attended delivery/pickup location to receive thedelivery.

K. Methods for Handling a Parcel That Is Destined for an AttendedDelivery/Pickup Location That Has No Additional Capacity

In some cases, a logistics system or other system may determine that aparticular parcel is en route to a particular attended delivery/pickuplocation that has inadequate capacity to accept the parcel. In suchcases, the system may, for example: (1) block the delivery of the parcelto the particular attended delivery/pickup location, re-route the parcelto an alternative attended delivery/pickup location, and inform theintended parcel recipient of the change; (2) hold the parcel for apredetermined period of time, deliver the parcel to the particularattended delivery/pickup location at a later time, and inform theintended recipient of the scheduling change; (3) deliver the parcel tothe recipient's home or place of business; or (4) handle the situationin any other suitable manner. The system may determine which of theabove approaches to take based at least in part, for example, on one ormore user-specified preferences.

L. Methods for Determining Alternative Attended Delivery/Pickup Location

In various situations, such as the situation described immediatelyabove, the system may re-route a parcel to an alternative attendeddelivery/pickup location. In such situations, the alternative attendeddelivery/pickup location may be identified based on, for example: (1)the distance of the alternative attended delivery/pickup location fromthe original, target attended delivery/pickup location; (2) the distanceof the alternative attended delivery/pickup location from the customer'sresidence or place of business; (3) the last attended delivery/pickuplocation used by the customer; or (4) a previous preference expressed bythe intended recipient of the parcel.

M. Methods for Allowing Customer to Reserve Space in an AttendedDelivery/Pickup Location

In certain embodiments, the system may be adapted to allow users toreserve space for a particular parcel at a particular attendeddelivery/pickup location so that delivery to the particular attendeddelivery/pickup location (rather than an alternative location) isguaranteed. The system may or may not charge the parcel recipient formaking such a reservation. In certain embodiments, the system providessuch reservations free of charge to those subscribing to a paid premiumlogistics service.

In various embodiments, the system is adapted to allow users to reserveone or more spaces (e.g., a block of spaces) at an attendeddelivery/pickup location. In particular embodiments, the system isadapted to allow users to reserves the one or more spaces at a timebefore any parcels are scheduled for delivery for the user at theattended delivery/pickup location where the user reserved the one ormore spaces. The user may, for example, reserve the one or more spaceson a particular day (e.g., or days) in the future. In variousembodiments, the ability to reserve attended delivery/pickup spaces inadvance may allow users to ensure that there will be space at theattended delivery/pickup location for a future order that the user isplanning, or for a future shipment that he user anticipates receiving.

In particular embodiments, the users reserving the space may includeindividuals, customers, manufacturers, corporations, etc. For example, acompany releasing a new product (e.g, Apple® releasing a new smartphone)may reserve one or more spaces at various attended delivery/pickuplocations for the release date of the product. The company may thenschedule shipment of the new product to each of the attendeddelivery/pickup locations in order to allow users to pick up the productordered by the customer or purchase the product directly from theattended delivery/pickup location on the release date. In this way,attended delivery/pickup locations may serve as temporary storefrontsfor companies who may, for example, wish to increase the availability oftheir product, or facilitate a more convenient purchase or pickup of theproduct by their customers.

N. Methods for Facilitating the Return of Items Using an AttendedDelivery/Pickup Location

Attended delivery/pickup locations may be configured, in someembodiments, to facilitate the return of previously purchased items to aretailer for a refund or exchange. For example, in particularembodiments, a representative at an attended delivery/pickup location(and/or a computer system associated with the attended delivery/pickuplocation) determines whether a particular item may be returned/exchangedand: (1) if the item may not be returned/exchanged, inform theindividual attempting to return the item that the item may not bereturned/exchanged; or (2) if the item may be returned/exchanged,facilitate the return/exchange of the item in accordance with termsspecified by the retailer to which the item is to be returned. In aparticular embodiment, the system may be adapted to: (1) read amachine-readable indicia (e.g., a UPC code, a transaction codeassociated with the sale of the item to the individual attempting toexchange the item, or other suitable item identifier) associated with anitem to be returned; and (2) use information derived from themachine-readable indicia to determine whether the item may bereturned/exchanged. In particular embodiments, the derived informationmay include a deadline for returning/exchanging the item. If an item iscurrently eligible to be returned or exchanged, the system mayoptionally determine when the user should receive either a refund forthe item or a substitute item and provide this information to the user.

In a particular embodiment in which the user is returning an item to aretail website by dropping the item at an attended delivery/pickuplocation, the system may be configured to provide a return label forplacing on a parcel containing the item that the user is returning. Invarious embodiments, the return label may expire at the end of aparticular return period (e.g., a period provided by the retail websitein which the user (e.g., customer) may return items to the retailwebsite in exchange for a full or partial refund). In particularembodiments, if the return label has not expired, the system mayfacilitate the shipment of the returned item from the attendeddelivery/pickup location to the retail website (e.g., a warehouse,storage facility, or processing facility associated with the retailwebsite) at no cost to the user. In various embodiments, the system, inresponse to determining that the return label has expired, mayfacilitate the shipment of the returned item from the attendeddelivery/pickup location to the retail website (e.g., a warehouse,storage facility, or processing facility associated with the retailwebsite) after charging the user a return fee. In other embodiments, ifthe return label has expired, the system may facilitate the shipment ofthe returned item from the attended delivery/pickup location to theretail website (e.g., a warehouse, storage facility, or processingfacility associated with the retail website) at no cost to the user; thesystem may then be configured to notify the retail website that thereturn period for the returned item has expired, and the retail websitemay charge the user for the return (e.g., deduct the cost of shippingthe returned item from any refund to which the user may be entitled).

In various embodiments, a computer system at each attendeddelivery/pickup location may be adapted to provide users with access toone or more checklists and/or questionnaires that may be used to makesure that all parts of a particular item are present before the item isreturned to a retailer for a refund or exchange. This may save theretailer time and money associated with replacing sub-parts of returneditems.

O. Methods for Facilitating the Pickup of Parcels or Other Items from anAttended Delivery/Pickup Location

Various techniques may be used to facilitate the pickup of parcels orother items from an attended delivery/pickup location. For example, auser may be provided with an electronic ID card or other device that maybe used to quickly identify the individual and any parcels that are tobe picked up by the individual at a particular attended delivery/pickuplocation. Similarly, the user may be provided with an application on theuser's mobile computing device that facilitates identification of theuser via near field communications, or one or more bar codes displayedon the screen of the mobile device. Such a bar code may alternatively beprinted (e.g., as a voucher) and presented to a representative of anattended delivery/pickup location to facilitate quick identification andpickup of one or more parcels stored at the attended delivery/pickuplocation.

In various embodiments, the system may be adapted to facilitate thepickup of a parcel by an individual other than the intended recipient ofthe parcel by, for example, having the intended recipient transfer theelectronic ID card (or a printed voucher generated by the system) toanother individual. The other individual may then present the electronicor physical ID card or voucher to a representative at the attendeddelivery/pickup location to verify that the individual is authorized topick up the parcel on the intended recipient's behalf. After therepresentative uses the system to verify the authenticity of theelectronic or physical ID card or voucher, the representative maytransfer the parcel to the individual.

In various embodiments, the electronic ID card discussed above may beadapted so that it is only valid when the electronic ID card (or adevice displaying the card) is located at a particular geographiclocation (e.g., at or near a particular GPS coordinate, or within aparticular Bluetooth network, or close enough to a particular computingdevice to communicate with the device using near field communications).

In various embodiments, the system may be adapted to create anelectronic token to verify that the user's computing device (and,therefore, presumably the user) was present at a location when a parcelwas picked up. This may serve as evidence that the parcel was picked upby the intended recipient rather than another individual.

Various aspects of the system's functionality may be executed by certainsystem modules, including an Item Pickup Module 400. This module isdiscussed in greater detail below.

Item Pickup Module

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of operations performed by an exemplary ItemPickup Module 400. In particular embodiments, the Item Pickup Module 400may facilitate the pickup of parcels from attended delivery/pickuplocations. When executing the Item Pickup Module 400, the system begins,at Step 410, by receiving, from a user, a request to retrieve one ormore parcels from an attended delivery/pickup location. In variousembodiments, the system is configured to receive the request from theintended recipient of the one or more parcels. In other embodiments, thesystem is configured to receive the request from an individual otherthan the intended recipient (e.g., an individual who may be picking upthe parcel on behalf of the intended recipient such as the intendedrecipient's wife, husband, roommate, friend, co-worker, son, daughter,brother, sister, etc.). In a particular embodiment, the system isconfigured to receive the request from a representative at the attendeddelivery/pickup location (e.g., an employee), who may, for example, bemaking the request on behalf of the intended recipient or another whohas come to the attended delivery/pickup location to retrieve theparcel.

Returning to Step 420, the system continues by, at least partially inresponse to receiving the request, confirming an authorization of theuser to retrieve the one or more parcels. In various embodiments, usersmay have authorization to retrieve the one or more parcels by virtue oftheir status as the intended recipient of the one or more parcels, byvirtue of authorization provided by the intended parcel recipient, etc.The system may be configured to confirm a user's authorization toretrieve the parcel in any suitable manner. This may include, forexample, confirming an identity of the user (e.g., confirming that theuser is the intended parcel recipient).

The system may confirm an identity of the user by receiving an image ofan identification card associated with the user (e.g., a driver'slicense, passport, etc.) and comparing information that theidentification card includes (e.g., a name, address, etc.) withinformation that the system has retrieved that is associated with theintended parcel recipient. The system may derive the information fromthe identification card using any suitable Optical Character Recognition(OCR) or other techniques. In particular embodiments, the system isconfigured to confirm the identity of the user by receiving input from arepresentative of the attended delivery/pickup location that containsinformation from an identification card associated with the intendedrecipient and comparing that information to known information about theintended recipient (e.g., their name, address date of birth, etc.). Inother embodiments, the system may display verifying informationassociated with the intended recipient to a representative associatedwith the attended delivery/pickup location who may then manually verifythe user attempting to retrieve the parcel's identity and notify thesystem that the user's identity has been verified.

In various embodiments, the system may be configured to confirm anidentity of the user by receiving an electronic ID associated with theuser that the system may have previously provided the user. Inparticular embodiments, the system may be configured to provide theelectronic ID to the intended parcel recipient, and the electronic IDmay be associated with the intended recipient and the one or moreparcels intended for the intended recipient. In particular embodiments,the system may be configured to enable the intended parcel recipient toprovide the electronic ID to one or more others in order to provide theone or more others with authorization to retrieve the one or moreparcels from the attended delivery/pickup location. The system may beconfigured to enable the intended parcel recipient to provide theelectronic ID to one or more others in any suitable manner, such as, forexample, transferring the electronic ID via an application on theintended parcel recipient's mobile computing device, by providing animage of machine readable indicia associated with the electronic ID tothe second user, etc.

In some embodiments, the system may be configured to read one or moremachine-readable indicia associated with the electronic ID (e.g., abarcode) in order to facilitate identification of the user. In variousembodiments, the system may be configured to read the one or moremachine-readable indicia from a display of a computing device (e.g.,such as a smartphone, tablet, etc.) associated with the user. In otherembodiments, the system may be configured to read the one or moremachine-readable indicia from a printout including the one-or moremachine-readable indicia.

In various embodiments, the system is configured to confirm anauthorization of the user by determining that an authorized user isphysically located at the attended delivery/pickup location at a timewhen a user is attempting to retrieve the parcel. For example, theintended parcel recipient may register a mobile computing deviceassociated with the intended recipient with the system, and the systemmay be configured to substantially automatically determine that themobile computing device (e.g., and presumably the intended recipient) isphysically located at the attended delivery/pickup location. The systemmay be configured to make this determination in any suitable manner, forexample, based at least in part on a GPS position of the mobilecomputing device; by communicating with the mobile device via Bluetooth,near field communications, or similar technologies from a computingdevice associated with the attended delivery/pickup location; etc.

The system continues, at Step 430, by at least partially in response toconfirming the authorization, facilitating a release of the one or moreparcels to the user. In various embodiments, the system is configured tofacilitate release of the parcel by verifying that the user isauthorized to pick up the parcel and instructing a representativeassociated with the attended delivery/pickup location to release (e.g.,give) the one or more parcels to the user (e.g., by displaying a messageto the representative on a computing device associated with the attendeddelivery/pickup location to release the one or more parcels). In otherembodiments, the system may be configured to facilitate the release inany other suitable manner.

P. Methods for Facilitating the Immediate Sale and Delivery of PopularItems from an e-Commerce Site

In particular embodiments, an attended delivery/pickup location maystock one or more items that sell frequently on an e-commerce web site(e.g., bestselling books, DVD's, or CD's). In particular embodiments,when a user of the e-commerce web site indicates that they wish topurchase such an item, the system may search the inventory of one ormore attended delivery/pickup locations that are geographically close tothe user (as determined by the user's mobile device, from informationprovided by the user, etc. . . . ) to determine whether the attendeddelivery/pickup locations have the item in stock. If so, the system mayinform the user that a nearby attended delivery/pickup location has theitem in stock, and provide the user with the option of paying for theitem online and then picking the item up (e.g., substantiallyimmediately on the same day) from the nearby attended delivery/pickuplocation.

In such cases, after the user purchases the item on the e-commerce site,the system may generate a physical or electronic receipt that the usermay use to retrieve the item from the identified attendeddelivery/pickup location. The system may also electronically notify theattended delivery/pickup location that the user has purchased the itemand request that the item be set aside for the user.

Q. Methods and Systems for Training Employees of an AttendedDelivery/pickup Location

In particular embodiments, each attended delivery/pickup location may beprovided with a client computer that may be switched between an activemode (in which the client computer is adapted to facilitate the pickup,delivery, and/or tracking of parcels), and a training mode (in which theclient computer is adapted to train individuals how to use the system).In particular embodiments, when the client computer is in the trainingmode, the computer simulates the operation of the computer when thecomputer is in active mode and provides instructions on how to properlyoperate the computer.

R. Methods and Systems for Conducting a Survey at an AttendedDelivery/pickup Location

In particular embodiments, when a user picks up a parcel at a particularattended delivery/pickup location, the user is presented with anelectronic survey of their experience at the attended delivery/pickuplocation. If the user rates the experience highly (e.g., 9-10 out of apossible 10), the system invites the user to go onto a social mediawebsite, such as Facebook, to provide comments and/or other feedback.This may help to expand the number of positive comments on the socialmedia website.

S. Provision of Customized Web Site for Each Attended Delivery/PickupLocation

In various embodiments, the system is adapted to provide a customizedwebsite for each attended delivery/pickup location. The website mayinclude a private portion that may only be accessed by individualsassociated with the particular attended delivery/pickup location. Thisprivate portion may display, for example, information regarding how muchthe attended delivery/pickup location has earned through delivery/pickupactivities and other relevant information.

The website may also include a public portion that allows the particularattended delivery/pickup location to advertise special offers, such asoffers for discounted merchandise. In particular embodiments, particularoffers may only if the user retrieves their one or more parcels from theattended delivery/pickup location before a particular location.

T. Methods for Enabling Users to Define Attended Delivery/PickupLocation Attributes

In particular embodiments, the system is adapted to allow users of thesystem to define and change various attributes associated with aparticular attended delivery/pickup location. Particular attributeswhich a user may define include, for example, the hours of operation ofthe attended delivery/pickup location,. For example, a user may definehours of operation based at least in part on the hours of operation ofthe retail store at which the attended delivery/pickup location islocated. In various embodiments, users may define hours of operationbased on any other suitable factor and may change hours of operation forany suitable reason (e.g., based at least in part on or due to staffavailability to man the attended delivery/pickup location, based atleast in part on holidays or holiday schedules, etc.)

In other embodiments, users may define which particular items may bedelivered to and/or temporarily stored at the attended delivery/pickuplocation. For example, a user may define an attended delivery/pickuplocation such that the attended delivery/pickup location may only accepta particular model of a new mobile computing device. In particularembodiments, the system may be configured to limit accepted items toallowed items by using one or more stock-keeping units (e.g., SKUs)associated with the allowed items. In other embodiments, the system mayensure that only allowed items are accepted by the attendeddelivery/pickup location using any other suitable technique (e.g., byscanning a barcode associated with an item when it is presented to theattended delivery/pickup location, etc.)

In particular embodiments the system may be configured to allow a userto define any other attribute associated with the attendeddelivery/pickup location. In various embodiments, the system may beconfigured to receive a listing of one or more users who are authorizedto define and/or change the various attributes associated with theattended delivery/pickup location. Authorized users may include, forexample, the owner of the attended delivery/pickup location, the ownerof the retail store in which the attended delivery/pickup location islocated, an authorized manager or employee of the attendeddelivery/pickup location or the retail store with which the attendeddelivery/pickup location is associated, an authorized representative ofa logistics company associated with facilitating delivery and/or pickupof items to or from the attended delivery/pickup location, etc.

U. Methods for Facilitating Substantially Anonymous Delivery to andPickup from an Attended Delivery/Pickup Location

In particular embodiments, the system is adapted to enable a user torequest delivery of one or more items to an attended delivery/pickuplocation substantially anonymously. As a particular example, a user mayorder one or more items from an online retailer for delivery to aparticular attended delivery/pickup location. In various embodiments,the system may enable the user to complete a transaction with the onlineretailer for the item as a guest (e.g., without logging into an accountassociated with the user or the online retailer). The user may thenrequest, as part of the transaction, that the one or more items bedelivered to an attended delivery/pickup location. In particularembodiments, the system may be configured to facilitate delivery of theone or more items to the attended delivery/pickup location withoutassociating a name or other identifying characteristic of the user withthe one or more items.

The system may, in various embodiments, assign an alias to the user(e.g., such as a unique identifying string of characters, etc.) In otherembodiments, the system may be configured to associate a confirmationnumber with the shipment of the one or more items. In variousembodiments, the system may be adapted to require the user to presentsomething other than a proof of identification of the user when the usergoes to the attended delivery/pickup location to pick up the one or moreitems. For example, the system may require the user to present theconfirmation number or alias in order to retrieve the one or more items,the system may require the user to show an e-mail, text message, orother suitable confirmation message confirming that the user placed theorder for the one or more items, etc. In other embodiments, the systemmay be configured to require confirmation by a user picking up the oneor more items from the attended delivery/pickup location that the userplaced the order for the one or more items in any other suitable manner(e.g., a manner in which the user's anonymity is substantiallymaintained).

V. Systems for Determining Suitability of Locations as AttendedDelivery/Pickup Locations

In various embodiments, the system is configured to determine asuitability of a particular location to serve as a location for anattended delivery/pickup location. In particular embodiments, thedetermination is based on, for example: (1) a number of returns thatoccur at the particular location (e.g., where the particular location isa retail location); (2) a number of complaints about the location (e.g.,complaints from customers of a business at the location); (3) geographicand demographic data associated with the particular location; (4) thirdparty commercially available data (e.g., a volume of sales at a businessassociated with the particular location, an average number of customersthat patronize a business associated with the particular location,etc.); and (5) any other suitable factor.

In particular embodiments, determination of suitability for a locationas an attended delivery/pickup location is determined using any suitabletechnique used by retailers or other businesses when selecting asuitable location to open a particular business. In other embodiments,the determination is based at least in part on logistics data (e.g.,based at least in part on particular shipping routes utilized bylogistics companies, etc.). In other embodiments, the determination maybe based on any suitable combination of the factors discussed above, orany other factors.

W. Flexible Activation of Alternative Delivery Locations

In various embodiments, the system is adapted to allow a user to quicklyactivate and/or deactivate one or more attended delivery/pickuplocations, and/or to create one or more time-limited attendeddelivery/pickup locations (e.g., alternative delivery locations that areset to exist for only a pre-determined amount of time). In a particularembodiment, the system is adapted to allow a user to set up a particularattended delivery/pickup location by: (1) specifying the attendeddelivery/pickup location; (2) specifying a start time for the attendeddelivery/pickup location to be in existence; and (3) specifying an endtime for the attended delivery/pickup location to be in existence. Invarious embodiments, the start time is selected to occur at about thebeginning of a particular event (e.g., a particular concert, party,sporting event, or other event), and the end time is selected to occurat about the end of the particular event. In particular embodiments, theevent may be staffed by one or more individuals associated with theparticular event.

X. Regularly Scheduled Pickups

In various embodiments, the system is adapted to coordinate pickups, ona regular basis (e.g., daily, weekly, etc. . . . ) from a particularlocation. Such pickups may be made by one or more logistics providersthat service attended delivery/pickup locations. This service may beimplemented for a fee, or for no charge.

In particular embodiments, the system may be adapted to allowindividuals to issue a real-time pickup request to have a parcel pickedup at a particular location. In particular embodiments, the system maybe adapted to automatically select a common carrier from a plurality ofcommon carriers to handle the requested parcel pickup. The system may dothis, for example, by: (1) informing a plurality of common carriers ofthe request; (2) accepting one or more respective bid prices from eachof the plurality of common carriers for which the respective commoncarriers would be willing to handle the requested parcel pickup; (3)based, at least in part, on the respective bid prices, selecting aparticular one of the plurality of common carriers to handle therequest; and (4) in response to selecting the particular common carrier,facilitating the pickup of the parcel by the particular common carrier.

Y. Automatic Tariff Changes

In various embodiments, the system is adapted to calculate the amountthat a particular individual will pay in parcel shipping charges in away that is customized for the situation at hand. For example, theshipping charge associated with shipping a parcel from a particularon-line retailer to an individual may be based, at least in part, on:(1) the current availability and/or capacity of an attendeddelivery/pickup location to which the parcel is to be delivered; (2) thefrequency of the individual's purchasing and/or shipment activity (e.g.,frequent purchasers and/or shippers may receive a discount); (3) thecarrier handling the delivery; (4) loyalty to a particular attendeddelivery/pickup location; (5) loyalty to the carrier handling thedelivery; and/or (6) total frequency of shipments to the attendeddelivery/pickup location on the individual's behalf In particularembodiments, the system may be customizable by any suitable party (e.g.,the owner of an attended delivery/pickup location) or any combination ofsuitable parties to calculate customized shipping rates based on anycombination of any suitable factors, such as the factors listed above.

Z. Exemplary Delivery Configurations

In particular embodiments, the system may be adapted to facilitate thedelivery of one or more parcels between various different types oflocations. For example, the system may be adapted to facilitate thedelivery of one or more parcels from: (1) an attended delivery/pickuplocation to an individual's home; (2) an attended delivery/pickuplocation to another attended delivery/pickup location; (3) anindividual's home to an attended delivery/pickup location; and (4) afirst individual's home to a second individual's home.

Illustrative Example

FIG. 5 depicts an exemplary transportation diagram that generallyillustrates the delivery of a parcel 500 directly to an attendeddelivery/pickup location 512, 514, 516. As may be understood from thisfigure, parcel recipients may elect to have parcels delivered directlyto attended delivery/pickup locations 512, 514, 516 rather than to otherlocations that are more closely associated with the parcel recipient(e.g., the parcel recipient's home or workplace). In variousembodiments, a system for coordinating the delivery of parcels toattended delivery/pickup locations may provide each potential parcelrecipient with a selection of attended delivery/pickup locations fromwhich the parcel recipient may select one or more attendeddelivery/pickup locations to have their inbound parcels to be deliveredto. For example, the system may present the user with a plurality ofattended delivery/pickup locations (e.g., such as delivery locations512, 514, 516). These attended delivery/pickup locations may includeattended delivery/pickup locations that are located near (e.g., within aparticular distance of) one or more locations such as the parcelrecipient's home, the parcel recipient's place of work, or any otherlocation that is closely associated with the parcel recipient.

For example, a particular attended delivery/pickup location 512 may be agas station located half a mile from the user's workplace 513. Anotherattended delivery/pickup location 514 may be a grocery store threeblocks from the user's apartment 515. Yet another attendeddelivery/pickup location 516 may include a flower shop next door to agymnasium 517 of which the user is a member. As may be understood fromFIG. 4, a common carrier (e.g., or other logistics company) may deliverparcels directly to such attended delivery/pickup locations rather thanto the locations that are more closely associated with the parcelrecipient 513, 515, 517.

As noted above, delivering to attended delivery/pickup locations ratherthan particular addresses (e.g., such as home addresses) more closelyassociated with particular parcel recipient may be beneficial for commoncarriers in that it may reduce the total number of addresses that thecommon carrier may need to deliver parcels to in a particular day. Thisprocess may also be advantageous to parcel recipients because it mayassure that their parcel is delivered to a convenient, attendedlocation. This may, for example, eliminate the risk associated withhaving the common carrier leave the parcel outside the parcelrecipient's home, or with having the parcel misplaced or improperlyrouted within the parcel recipient's workplace. In particularembodiments, the system is configured to deliver a parcel to whicheverattended delivery/pickup location (e.g., attended delivery/pickuplocation 512, 514, or 516) the user selects.

Conclusion

Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come tomind to one skilled in the art to which this invention pertains havingthe benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions andthe associated drawings. While examples discussed above cover the use ofthe invention in the context of attended delivery/pickup locations(e.g., attended retail delivery/pickup locations), the invention may beused in any other suitable context, such as within the context of: (1)unattended delivery/pickup locations; (2) attended delivery-onlylocations; (3) attended pickup-only location; (4) unattendeddelivery-only locations; and (5) unattended pickup-only locations.Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to belimited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications andother embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of theappended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they areused in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for the purposes oflimitation.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer-implemented method of delivering aparcel to an alternate delivery/pickup location, said method comprising:providing, by at least one processor, a selection of one or moreattended delivery/pickup locations to a first user; receiving, by atleast one processor, a request from said first user to deliver one ormore parcels to a particular one of said one or more attendeddelivery/pickup locations, said one or more parcels having one or moreintended parcel recipients; facilitating delivery, by at least oneprocessor, of said one or more parcels from an origin location to saidparticular one of said one or more attended delivery/pickup locations;receiving, by at least one processor, an indication of a delivery ofsaid one or more parcels at said particular one of said one or moreattended delivery/pickup locations; receiving, by at least oneprocessor, an indication that said one or more intended parcelrecipients is attempting to pickup said one or more parcels from saidparticular one of said one or more attended delivery/pickup locations;confirming, by at least one processor, an identity of said one or moreintended parcel recipients; and at least partially in response to saidconfirmation, enabling release, by at least one processor, of said oneor more parcels to said one or more confirmed intended parcelrecipients.
 2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein saidone or more intended parcel recipients comprise said first user.
 3. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said confirming saididentity of said one or more intended parcel recipients comprisesreceiving an identifying input from said one or more intended parcelrecipients.
 4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein saididentifying input is selected from a group consisting of: (a) an imageof a machine-readable indicia associated with said one or more intendedparcel recipients; (b) an electronic ID associated with said one or moreintended parcel recipients; and (c) an image of a photo ID associatedwith said one or more intended parcel recipients.
 5. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein: said method furthercomprises facilitating provision, by at least one processor, of anelectronic ID card associated with said one or more intended parcelrecipients to said one or more intended parcel recipients; and saididentifying input comprises said electronic ID card.
 6. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein: receiving saididentifying input from said one or more intended parcel recipientscomprises receiving said identifying input from a representativeassociated with said particular one of said one or more attendeddelivery/pickup locations; and enabling release of said one or moreparcels to said one or more confirmed intended parcel recipientscomprises providing one or more instructions to said representative torelease said one or more parcels.
 7. The computer-implemented method ofclaim 5, wherein said method further comprises enabling, by at least oneprocessor, said one or more intended parcel recipients to display saidelectronic ID card on a computing device associated with said one ormore intended parcel recipients.
 8. The computer-implemented method ofclaim 7, wherein confirming said identity of said one or more intendedparcel recipients comprises determining that said computing deviceassociated with said one or more intended parcel recipients is locatedat a geographic location associated with said particular one of said oneor more attended delivery/pickup locations.
 9. The computer-implementedmethod of claim 1, wherein said confirming said identity of said one ormore intended parcel recipients comprises substantially automaticallyconfirming a location of said one or more intended parcel recipients.10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein said confirmingsaid location of said one or more intended parcel recipients comprisesdetermining that a computing device associated with said one or moreparcel recipients is geographically located at said particular one ofsaid one or more attended delivery/pickup locations.
 11. A computersystem for facilitating delivery of a parcel to a recipient comprises:at least one processor, wherein said computer system is configured for:(a) receiving, from a first user, a first request to deliver one or moreparcels to an attended delivery/pickup location, said request comprisingan intended recipient for said one or more parcels; (b) at leastpartially in response to receiving said first request: providing anelectronic identification to said intended recipient; and facilitatingdelivery of said one or more parcels to said attended delivery/pickuplocation; (c) receiving, at said attended delivery/pickup location, asecond request to retrieve said one or more delivered parcels by asecond user; (d) at least partially in response to receiving said secondrequest, confirming an authorization of said second user to retrievesaid one or more parcels, said confirming comprising receiving, fromsaid second user, said electronic identification; and (e) at leastpartially in response to said confirming that said second user has saidauthorization, facilitating a release of said one or more parcels tosaid second user.
 12. The computer system of claim 11, wherein saidcomputer system is further configured for enabling said intendedrecipient to provide said electronic identification to said second user.13. The computer system of claim 12, wherein said electronicidentification comprises one or more machine readable indicia.
 14. Thecomputer system of claim 13, wherein said computer system is furtherconfigured to display said electronic identification on a computingdevice associated with said second user.
 15. The computer system ofclaim 11, wherein said second user is said intended recipient.
 16. Anon-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executableinstructions for: (a) receiving, from a first user, a first request todeliver one or more parcels to an attended delivery/pickup location,said first request comprising an intended recipient for said one or moreparcels; (b) at least partially in response to receiving said firstrequest facilitating delivery of said one or more parcels to saidattended delivery/pickup location; (c) receiving, at said attendeddelivery/pickup location, a second request to retrieve said one or moredelivered parcels by a second user; (d) at least partially in responseto receiving said second request, confirming an authorization of saidsecond user to retrieve said one or more parcels; and (e) at leastpartially in response to said confirming that said second user has saidauthorization, facilitating a release of said one or more parcels tosaid second user.
 17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium ofclaim 16, wherein said first request is a request to deliver one or moreitems ordered form an online retail website to said attendeddelivery/pickup location.
 18. The non-transitory computer-readablemedium of claim 16, wherein said confirming said authorization of saidsecond user to retrieve said one or more parcels comprises substantiallyautomatically confirming a location of said second user.
 19. Thenon-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein confirmingsaid location of said second user comprises determining that a computingdevice associated with said second user is geographically located atsaid attended delivery/pickup location.
 20. The non-transitorycomputer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein said facilitating saidrelease of said one or more parcels to said second user comprisesdisplaying an instruction to release said one or more parcels on adisplay associated with a computing device associated with said attendeddelivery/pickup location to a representative associated with saidattended delivery/pickup location.